Global PC shipments fell more than 20% in the third quarter, research firms say, as a surge in memory-chip prices driven by the AI data-centre boom collided with inventory built up earlier in the year.
IDC counted 62.7 million units shipped, down from 78.5 million a year earlier — a 20.1% drop — while Omdia estimated a 21.2% year-on-year decline to 58.1 million units and Gartner put the fall at a sharper 22.4%, to 55.4 million. The firms differ on magnitude but agree on direction and cause.
A chip shortage years in the making
Analysts said the impact of higher memory and storage costs is now fully reflected in PC pricing, while IDC pointed to "ongoing supply constraints and higher price points driven by AI data-centre buildout" — the same appetite for memory chips that has been straining supply for AI servers. Desktops were hit hardest, with Omdia estimating a 23.5% decline, against a 20.6% fall for notebooks.
Much of the first half of 2026 had looked stronger than usual because vendors and retailers front-loaded orders, anticipating that RAM and storage prices would keep climbing. That stockpiling flattered earlier results but left the market exposed once shelves filled up: IDC said shipments fell a further 9.1% sequentially in the third quarter, reversing the usual seasonal uptick ahead of the holidays.
Analysts warned the outlook into 2027 could worsen before it improves, with memory prices showing few signs of easing as long as AI infrastructure spending continues to absorb global chip supply.